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Hours passed, and as dawn approached, Horyu opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and focused. "Time to face whatever this mission throws at us," he said with a quiet determination.
He grabbed his bag and headed towards the village gate. The streets of Konoha were quiet in the early morning, with just a few villagers beginning their day. Horyu's steps were even and unhurried, his expression calm yet alert.
Arriving at the gate, he saw Kurenai and the rest of his team already gathered. Hinata offered a small smile, her eyes reflecting a mix of excitement and nervousness. Shino, ever stoic, gave a brief nod in acknowledgment.
Kurenai stepped forward, gesturing to the grizzled old man standing beside her. "This is Tazuna-san, our client," she announced, her voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of seriousness.
Tazuna, a weather-beaten man with a face carved by years of hard labor and worry, scanned the group with a critical eye. His gaze lingered on the young ninjas, skepticism etched deeply in his furrowed brow. Despite his initial doubt, he was here because the Hokage had agreed to his terms, even after his deception was uncovered. "Bunch of kids to guard me against Gato, huh?" he muttered under his breath, a mix of disbelief and resignation coloring his tone.
Hinata and Shino exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with irritation at the thinly veiled contempt. Horyu, however, remained impassive, his thoughts inward and calculating. 'Let him think what he wants. Time will tell the tale,' he mused silently.
Kurenai, sensing the tension, interjected smoothly. "Tazuna-san, these 'kids' are more capable than they appear. You're in safe hands." Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Tazuna grunted noncommittally, his eyes still skeptical. He had seen much in his life, and trust was not easily given, especially to those who seemed so young.
Horyu leaned against a nearby post, his eyes closed, a picture of nonchalance. 'Old man's got a point, though. But appearances can be deceiving,' he thought, a wry smile playing on his lips.
Kurenai's decisive voice cut through the early morning air. "If everyone is ready, let's go."
Hinata and Shino, the heirs of prominent clans, carried scrolls their families had entrusted them with – contingencies for emergencies. Horyu himself had a few scrolls tucked away in his inventory, along with other essential items he had meticulously selected.
Kurenai led her team to the village entrance, where the guards were stationed. The early morning sun cast long shadows, adding a sense of solemnity to the moment. "Listen up," she began, her voice firm and instructional. "When we embark on a mission outside the village, there are certain protocols we need to follow."
Horyu, standing with his arms crossed, watched the guards intently. He was familiar with the process, but it was one thing to know it in theory and another to see it in practice. Kurenai turned to Tazuna, gesturing for him to hand over his mission scroll.
"This is the mission scroll," she explained, holding it up for the team to see. "It outlines our objectives and the terms agreed upon by the client and the village. When we leave the village on a mission, we must sign the log, and show the mission scroll. It's a formality, but an important one."
The guards, stern and professional, watched as Kurenai signed the logbook first, followed by Hinata, Shino, and finally Horyu. 'Formalities are a pain, but they're part of the shinobi life,' he thought, as he signed the book.
After the signing, Kurenai handed the scroll back to Tazuna. "Now, we officially begin our mission," she declared, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "We'll proceed at a steady pace. If there's anything specific you need us to know or do, now's the time to tell us."
Tazuna grumbled, eyeing the young ninjas. "Just keep me alive, and we're good."
Kurenai's eyes narrowed. "We'll do more than that, Tazuna-san. We'll ensure the mission's success."
Horyu smirked, turning his gaze towards the road ahead. 'Old man's not the only one who'll be surprised,' he thought to himself.
Outside of the Konoha walls, the early morning calm hung in the air, a stark contrast to the bustling village they had just left behind. As the giant gates shrank in the distance, the novelty of the venture seemed to fade for Horyu Uchiha. For Hinata and Shino, journeying beyond the village was a familiar experience, but for Horyu, it was a first. An orphan and an outcast, he had never been afforded such opportunities before. Yet, he harbored no excitement. His knowledge of the world beyond the walls, gleaned from the countless fictional works stored in his mind, left him feeling indifferent to the journey. Instead, he was keenly aware of the challenges ahead, particularly the ambush he anticipated at a certain puddle on their path, where the Demon Brothers lay in wait.
Horyu walked with a casual stride, his gaze occasionally drifting to the road ahead. As the team trekked on, Hinata glanced at Horyu, her curiosity evident. "Horyu, you seem... calm. Not worried or excited?"
Smiling wryly at Hinata, Horyu replied, "I guess I expected something more... dramatic. But it's just another road, another journey. You spend so much time imagining what's beyond your world, building it up in your head. And then, when you finally step out, it's just... ordinary."
Hinata nodded, a soft 'Oh' escaping her lips as she returned her gaze to the path ahead. Her steps were careful, her focus on the mission, but Horyu could tell she was pondering his words.
Shino, walking a few steps ahead, glanced back at them. "Expectations often lead to disappointments," he commented in his usual monotone voice. "It's best to approach things with a clear mind."
"Clear mind, huh?" Horyu chuckled softly. "Easier said than done when you've got a brain that doesn't stop."
Kurenai, overhearing their conversation, added, "It's a shinobi's job to adapt, to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Remember, every mission is an opportunity to learn and grow."
Horyu snorted lightly. "Learn and grow. Sounds like something out of a self-help book."
Kurenai shot Horyu a sharp look, her eyes narrowing slightly at his comment. But before she could respond, her attention was drawn to a puddle ahead on the road. As an experienced Jonin, she instantly recognized the potential danger. Her eyes darted to the puddle, analyzing it in a split second.
Horyu, standing slightly behind, watched Kurenai's reaction with a subtle smirk. 'There they are,' he thought to himself. He focused his attention on the puddle, using his 'Observe' skill to see if the system would reveal the hidden enemies.
[System Message: Enemies Detected! Demon Brothers, lying in wait.]
Horyu's eyes flickered with amusement, but he kept his expression neutral. He noted that Hinata's Byakugan was activated, her eyes scanning the area with precision. She had undoubtedly spotted the Demon Brothers first. Meanwhile, Shino's insects were swarming over the puddle, consuming the chakra hidden within it. Horyu could tell that Shino was aware of the threat as well.
Despite the knowledge of the ambush, the team continued walking, their steps measured and calm. They trusted each other's abilities and chose not to alert the enemy prematurely. The only one blissfully unaware of the imminent danger was Tazuna, their client, who remained focused on the road ahead.
The quest to develop a secret communication technique lingered in Horyu's quest tab, an unfulfilled potential in his arsenal. "Could've been handy right now," he muttered under his breath, a tinge of sarcasm in his tone. He shrugged off the thought, focusing on the path ahead.
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